On the morning of Friday, September 20, Sean “Diddy” Combs, now identified as Register Number 37452-054 by the Bureau of Prisons, received his first meal at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. The breakfast served at 6:00 a.m. included cereal, fruit, and a breakfast cake.
Combs, who faces serious charges of racketeering and sex crimes, was placed on suicide watch shortly after his arrival at the facility. Multiple sources confirmed to PEOPLE that this decision came within the first days of his incarceration. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.
His legal team remains optimistic about his mental state and defense strategy. In a statement released on Friday, Combs’ attorneys, Marc Agnifilo and Teny R. Geragos, emphasized that he is “strong, healthy, and focused on his defense.” They stated, “He is committed to fighting this case and has full confidence in both his legal team and the truth.”
Earlier this week, Agnifilo and Geragos submitted a bail proposal that was rejected by two judges in Manhattan. In their proposal, they described the conditions at MDC as “horrific” and claimed the facility is “not fit for pre-trial detention.”
Security Concerns
Cameron Lindsay, a retired warden of MDC-Brooklyn and an expert in corrections, highlighted the unique challenges Combs faces in his current environment. According to Lindsay, the rapper’s celebrity status and the nature of the allegations against him make him a potential target for violence. He stated, “His huge celebrity status and the allegations of violence against women make him a very attractive target for assault.”
The former warden described the facility as “austere” and “cold,” emphasizing that life there is highly regimented. “Everything is planned. It’s not a life,” he said, noting that inmates like Combs do not have access to the internet and are restricted to enclosed outdoor spaces for any recreational time.
Life in Detention
Federal inmates at MDC-Brooklyn are subjected to strict daily routines. Scott Taylor, a spokesman for the Bureau of Prisons, stated that Combs, like the other 1,217 inmates at the facility, must wake up at 6:00 a.m. and have his bed made by 7:30 a.m. The inmates also undergo at least five official counts every 24 hours, with some counts requiring them to stand at their bedside. According to the 55-page Inmate Admission & Orientation Handbook that Combs would have received upon booking, lunch is served at 11:00 a.m. and dinner follows the 4 p.m. headcount.
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This stark change in lifestyle marks a significant departure from Combs’ previous life, which included a $48 million mansion and a personal plane. His lawyers mentioned that he has been attempting to sell his private jet amid the legal turmoil.
Comparisons to Other High-Profile Inmates
Notably, R&B singer R. Kelly was also housed at MDC-Brooklyn while awaiting his federal trial on sex crime charges. Kelly’s attorney, Nicole Blank Becker, described the conditions at the facility as “mentally crippling” and claimed that guards took advantage of the singer’s celebrity status. Becker expressed concerns for Combs, stating, “If Diddy is going to be experiencing anything like I know R. Kelly experienced, it’s not going to be good.”
In her phone interview, Becker highlighted the extreme mental toll the conditions can take on inmates, saying, “On the daily, we were concerned about whether or not R. Kelly was alive, frankly. It is inhumane, a whole other world. I mean, grown men cry.”
Bureau of Prisons’ Response
In response to concerns about safety and inmate welfare, Taylor stated that the Federal Bureau of Prisons is committed to ensuring the safety of both inmates and staff. He acknowledged existing challenges at MDC, including staffing shortages, which are currently at about 76 percent capacity. Taylor noted that an Urgent Action Team has been established to address these issues, including efforts to increase staffing and manage a backlog of over 700 maintenance requests.
As Sean Combs navigates the complexities of his legal battles, he will face significant challenges within the confines of MDC-Brooklyn, where his every move is monitored and his safety is a constant concern. The legal proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks, as the case draws national attention and scrutiny.
